Despite the gnats, horse flies, and occasional ant bites, we truly live in a great and beautiful state. Of course if you reside above the gnat line you are not a true southerner because you don’t know the art of “blowing gnats” and you probably don’t know much about grits either.

I have traveled to many areas around this great state, but I have never spent much time in the mountain region of Georgia. During the Independence Day holiday Amy, Cole, Jacob and I had the opportunity to visit the North Georgia Mountains at the invite of some good friends. Our travels took us to Hiawassee and the shores of Lake Chatuge, which borders North Carolina.

I have never been a big fan of the mountains unless it involves some type of activity such as waterskiing or golf. I’ve always felt that I could go out behind my parents’ house and look at the leaves turning in the fall months on Ten Mile Creek. Did I mention that I love our flat highways? However the closer we got to Hiawassee, last Wednesday, the more I realized just how much beauty our state and its mountains have to offer.

Think about it; there are not many states that have topography ranging from coastal plains to mountains. The Jekyll Island airport sets at an elevation of just 11 feet above sea level. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald at an amazing 4,784 feet. That’s a stark difference.

Another area that comes to mind and offers unique beauty is High Falls State Park, located near Jackson. If you are traveling on Interstate 75 North (just north of Forsyth), I encourage you to take 10 - 20 minutes or plan a picnic and enjoy the beauty this park has to offer. Talking about state parks, many of Georgia’s State Parks are located near breathtaking natural surroundings and historic sites. In addition you don’t have to break the bank when visiting these parks.

Even though it rained on and off during this entire trip and we did not enjoy the cool temps, I still looked in amazement each morning at the clouds meandering through the mountains. It was truly a sight to see and strengthened my belief that there is a Creator above. God didn’t hold back when He created the North Georgia Mountains.

On a final note…though the temps were in the low 70s and rain ruled each day, I was not going to be denied waterskiing in the clear waters of Lake Chatuge after driving that long of a distance. My buddy said to me, “Suck it up buttercup.” I did and surfed and wakeboarded on the lake. But guess which “buttercup” was complaining later about the cool air and water temps? The one that called me a “buttercup”. Of course the temps never bothered Cole or Jacob; I think they were in the water before we could get the bags unpacked.

All in all it was a terrific trip and I may just have to visit the North Georgia Mountains again just to witness the boundless beauty Georgia has to offer.

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